Chapter One

Sitting on the edge of the creaked bed, a girl named Rose hears a vile voice which is familiar to her ears. She rolls her eyes, a mixture of annoyance and apprehension flickering across her face. The voice grows louder, drawing closer to her tiny room, until the door creaks open with a resounding bang against the wall behind it.

Startled, Rose jumps to her feet, her concerned expression overshadowing her features. Her eyes meet the piercing gaze of a woman in her late forties, her face twisted with a vicious expression that sends shivers down Rose's spine. The woman, her name known all too well to Rose, is none other than her step-aunt, Margaret.

"I have been calling you. Can't you hear me?" Margaret spits out the words with anger, her voice dripping with venom. Rose's heart races as she tries to compose herself, aware of the consequences that may follow.

Tentatively, Rose musters up the courage to speak, her voice trembling. "Aunty Margaret, I didn't hear you..." But before she can finish her sentence, Margaret's rage reaches its peak. In a fit of fury, she hurls a white-colored envelope in Rose's direction. The envelope flies through the air, landing directly on Rose's face with a sharp thud. 

Rose winces, her cheek stinging from the impact.

As Rose gingerly retrieves the envelope, tears well up in her eyes. She unfolds the letter inside, her heart sinking as she reads the words that shatter her dreams. It is a rejection letter from the university she had set her hopes on, a cruel blow to her aspirations.

Margaret watches with a cold satisfaction, relishing in Rose's despair. "See? I knew you wouldn't amount to anything," she sneers, her tone dripping with disdain. "No good university would ever accept a girl like you."

Rose's voice quivers as she tries to defend herself, her dreams crumbling before her eyes. "But... but I worked so hard. I thought... I thought I had a chance."

“Now, pray…if you ever get a chance to study. Otherwise, you will be working hard.” Dismissing her words, Margaret turns away, leaving Rose to grapple with her shattered hopes. Clutching the rejection letter tightly, Rose's determination flickers to life amidst the darkness. She refuses to let the cruelty of her step-aunt define her future. 

Sitting on a worn-out bench outside the nightclub where she works as a waitress, she takes a deep sigh, her fingers absentmindedly plucking at the delicate petals of the flowers she had plucked from a nearby plant. 

The petals fall one by one, mirroring the fragments of her tumultuous life.

Her thoughts drift back to the struggles she has endured since she was just a tender five-year-old. The weight of her tragic beginnings hangs heavy in her heart. Her parents were taken away from her before she could even know their love, their absence a constant ache in her soul. 

Her mother was lost to the cruel grip of labor pain, and her father, unable to bear the agony of losing his beloved, succumbing to his own despair.

Left orphaned, she was entrusted to the care of her uncle, a beacon of love and warmth in her world. He embraced her with open arms, providing solace and affection. But fate, ever unkind, snatched him away too soon, leaving her vulnerable and alone. 

The void created by his untimely departure was profound, and she felt the weight of his absence keenly.

Her uncle's passing marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life, one steeped in misery and torment. She was left in the clutches of her step-aunt, a woman devoid of compassion or kindness. Instead, her step-aunt reveled in inflicting pain upon the young girl, subjecting her to relentless cruelty and abuse.

As she plucks the final petal from the flower in her hand, her gaze fixates on its discarded remains. The petals scattered around her symbolize the shattered fragments of her past, the pain she has endured, and the resilience that has helped her survive.

As the man casually strolls into the club, a flicker of annoyance crosses Rose's face as she observes him carelessly discard his lit cigarette, allowing it to fall to the floor. Her eyes fixate on the smoldering ember, its glow captivating her attention.

In that moment, intrusive thoughts invade her mind, urging her to succumb to a self-destructive impulse. The relentless whispers coax her to grab the cigarette, to feel the searing heat against her skin, as if the flames of the ashes could somehow provide a temporary release from the anguish within.

Unable to resist the pull, Rose swiftly bends down, snatching the cigarette from the floor. She holds it between her trembling fingers, her gaze fixated on the wisps of smoke curling upwards. A mix of desperation and determination fills her eyes as she contemplates her next action.

Just as she is about to succumb to the allure of self-inflicted pain, a sudden blast of a car horn shatters the silence around her. The sound reverberates through the air, jolting her senses. Startled, she jerks back, her grip on the cigarette loosening.

The roar of a passing car breaks through the noise of the club, its Akrapovic exhaust amplifying the cacophony. The thunderous engine echoes in her ears, momentarily overpowering her intrusive thoughts. Her body tenses, instinctively preparing to shield herself from an unseen threat.

The abrupt interruption jolts Rose back to reality, her mind momentarily freed from the grip of self-destructive impulses. With a conflicted expression, she brings the end of the cigarette to her lips, taking in a long, desperate drag.

But as the smoke fills her lungs, an intense fit of coughing overtakes her, forcing her to double over with each hacking cough. The acrid taste and burning sensation catch her off guard, overwhelming her delicate throat. In a reflexive action, she hastily removes the cigarette from her mouth, gasping for breath.

The cigarette lands on the floor, forgotten and discarded, as Rose struggles to regain her composure. Her chest heaves, and tears well up in her eyes from the forceful coughing fit. She takes several deep breaths, her body trembling with a mixture of exhaustion and relief as she fights to catch her breath.

Just as she begins to recover, her senses still heightened from the coughing episode, she becomes aware of a presence nearby. Instinctively, she turns her gaze towards the source, her eyes narrowing as she tries to discern who has interrupted her moment of vulnerability.

Standing before her is a figure, their features momentarily obscured by the dim lighting of the club. Rose's heart skips a beat, unsure whether this presence will bring solace or further turmoil into her already troubled existence.

"Rose! Get back here!" a man's voice booms, filled with impatience and rudeness, cutting through the tranquil silence outside. Startled, Rose quickly rises from the bench, leaving behind the remnants of the plucked flower petals. She obediently makes her way towards the entrance of the nightclub where she works as a waitress.

Pushing open the heavy door, Rose is instantly engulfed by a wave of sound. The pulsating music reverberates through the air, threatening to shatter her eardrums. The club is alive with a cacophony of voices, laughter, and the rhythmic beats that drown out her thoughts.

Navigating her way through the dimly lit interior, Rose grimly prepares herself for the task at hand. The man's callous command lingers in her mind, a reminder of her role in this chaotic environment. She braces herself for the sight that awaits her—a table soiled with vomit, an unpleasant reminder of the excesses of the night.

Summoning her inner strength, Rose pushes past the distractions and focuses on the task before her. She retrieves cleaning supplies from a nearby station, attempting to block out the noise and the overwhelming energy of the club. With practiced efficiency, she begins to meticulously clean the mess, determined to complete the task with grace and professionalism.

As Rose's shift at the nightclub comes to an end, she joins the queue of fellow employees, patiently waiting for her turn to receive her hard-earned pay. The atmosphere is filled with a mix of exhaustion and anticipation, as each person eagerly clutches onto the hope that their wages will provide some respite in the face of life's challenges.

Finally, it's her turn. 

With a mixture of relief and gratitude, Rose accepts her daily pay, clutching the bills tightly in her hand. It may not be much, but it represents her dedication and perseverance in the face of adversity. Leaving the nightclub behind, Rose steps out into the cool night air. The bustling city streets greet her, alive with the sounds of people going about their own lives. 

She takes a moment to adjust her pace, allowing herself to savor the freedom that comes with the end of a long shift.

As she walks along the familiar path that leads her home, Rose's gaze shifts upwards, drawn to the vast expanse of the night sky. The twinkling stars, scattered like diamonds against a velvety backdrop, captivate her attention. She marvels at their beauty, finding solace in the silent presence of something greater than herself.

As the first light begins to trickle over the horizon, an otherworldly glow creeps across the landscape, casting long, mysterious shadows that dance upon the earth. The world holds its breath, caught between the fading night and the imminent dawn.

As Rose steps inside the house, a sense of tension fills the air. The presence before her materializes into the figure of her aunt, who stands with an expression that carries a mix of disapproval and impatience. Instinctively, Rose's hand searches the pocket of her hoodie, retrieving the hard-earned dollars she had received moments ago.

Before she can utter a single word, her aunt swiftly snatches the money from her grasp, leaving Rose momentarily stunned. Her attempt to explain herself is abruptly silenced by her aunt's harsh command, commanding her to retreat to her room. A mix of frustration and confusion wells up within Rose as she struggles to comprehend her aunt's reaction.

“Easy! I am giving it to you.”

“Shut up! Go to your room. There is a letter for you.” Resigned to her aunt's curt dismissal, Rose ponders on the cryptic mention of a letter that awaits her. “You got into a school. That’s even worse.” As she makes her way towards her room, her aunt's voice echoes through the house, berating her for receiving news that seems to displease her even more than the money.

Closing the door behind her, Rose seeks solace within the confines of her room. The muffled sound of her aunt's voice fades as the door acts as a barrier against the outside world. Taking a deep breath, Rose attempts to drown out the negativity, focusing on the task at hand—the letter that supposedly holds news for her.

Curiosity mingled with trepidation, Rose approaches the corner of her room where a small desk resides. A single envelope rests there, bearing her name in elegant handwriting. With a mixture of anticipation and apprehension, she carefully tears open the envelope, revealing the contents within.

As she reads the words on the letter, Rose's eyebrows furrow deeper, her mind racing to comprehend the weight of the news it carries. The words reveal that she has been accepted into a school—a development that seems to evoke an unexpected response from her aunt, one that only deepens the mystery surrounding her aunt's behavior.

“Westmount High!” As Rose reads the name of the school, Westmount High, a wave of emotions washes over her. The combination of excitement and trepidation sends shivers down her spine, causing her to pause and take in the significance of the moment.

Her heart races within her chest, its rhythmic beats resonating loudly in her ears. The realization that this acceptance carries a profound impact on her future fills her with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. The weight of the opportunity before her settles heavily on her shoulders, and she can't help but feel a surge of both fear and hope coursing through her veins.